This week, voters in California rejected Proposition 19, which would have legalized the production, sale and use of small quantities of marijuana by people 21 or older. Opposition to the proposal had come from many corners, including the Mexican and… Continue Reading
Last fall in a packed auditorium of over 1,000 “juarences” (Ciudad Juárez citizens), Sergio Fajardo, former mayor of Medellín and vice-presidential candidate of Colombia, recounted the story of how Medellín turned the odds around and got off the list of… Continue Reading
This year marks the bicentennial of a number of Latin American countries, including our neighbor to the south. Mexico is joined by Chile in its celebration of 200 years of independence from Spain this month; Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina marked… Continue Reading
The media and government have a complex relationship. A few decades ago in Latin America, military dictatorships severely restricted freedom of expression by the press. Today, however, under democratic governments throughout the region, media censorship is more subtle and, in… Continue Reading
Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s speech to the joint session of the U.S. Congress yesterday was right on target. As Mexico’s head of state, it’s hardly surprising that he saw fit to express his opposition to the new Arizona law that… Continue Reading
Given a history of brutal military dictatorships in Latin America, it’s no surprise that when democratic governments came to power in the 1980s, new leaders were constitutionally limited to one term in office. This was a protective measure to keep… Continue Reading
Three months after Honduran President José Manuel Zelaya was forced from power by his own military, the country’s political situation has not improved at all. The international community was quick to condemn the ouster — the military’s involvement clearly brought… Continue Reading